Day 1 : Kayseri to Cappadocia

Meet at the Kayseri airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to Cappadocia. Cappadocia is undeniably a nature fantasy and it almost feels like another planet with its exceptional geological formations. In this creation of Nature, the curiosity of the landscapes is added to the historical richness. Wind, rain and frost have sculpted this superb scenery in the volcanic rock during millions of years. The region is largely underlain by sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams, and ignimbrite deposits erupted from ancient volcanoes. The rocks of Cappadocia eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and forms. We spend the next seven Nights in Cappadocia to explore the landscape of this wonder of nature.Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 80 km; (Kayseri airport – Cappadocia)ON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: – / – / D

Day 2 : Cappadocia Mountain biking; route 1

Mustafapasa → Uzengi valley → Ortahisar → Goreme open air museum → Uchisar → Karandere valley → GoremeWe start our first ride in the village of Mustafapasa, formerly known as Sinasos and inhabited by Greek Orthodox families until the beginning of the 20th Century. Mustafapasa is well known for its houses and mansions with fine examples of stonework. Via Mustafapasa we take the asphalt road towards Urgup (approximately 4 km) until we reach the entrance of Uzengi Valley where we follow stabilized roads and through beautiful examples of bizarre fairy chimneys. Via Uzengi Valley we reach Ortahisar and ride the asphalt road out of the village, cross over a main road and continue towards Goreme open air Museum. The Christian people at the heart of the Cappadocia realized that the soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post iconoclastic period. The frescoes inside the Goreme Open Air Museum are a unique artistic achievement from this period. After visiting the Goreme open air Museum we ride on satbilized roads, through vineyard gardens towards Uchisar where we will enter into the Karandere Valley. We ride on stabilized roads and small paths through this very unspoiled, but fascinating Valley in the middle of a lunar landscape. Via Cavusin village we ride on stabilized roads towards Goremem where our first ride will end. In Goreme village we take time for a cup of traditionell Turkish tea before we drive back to our Hotel.Distance by bike: approximately 30/35 km (approximately 10/15 km asphalt)Altitude differences: between 35 – 285mAscent / descent: ⇓ 90m ; ⇑ 175m; ⇓ 155m; ⇑ 265m; ⇓ 285m; ⇑ 35m; ⇓ 95m; ⇑ 90m;ON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: B / L / D

Day 3 : Cappadocia Mountain biking; route 2

Mustafapasa → Damsa Dam → Cemil village → Derbentbasi → Baskoy & Guzeloz → Soganli ValleyAfter breakfast we start our ride in Mustafapasa village and ride on stabilized roads towards Damsa Dam with the hill Golgoli as our orientation point. After passing Damsa Dam we reach the village of Cemil and the monastery of Keslik, built in volcanic tuff stone and used in the Byzantine era until the end of the Ottoman Empire in the 1920s. Hollowed out in the 13th century, Keslik monastery is also known as the Monastery of Archangels. We continue our ride towards the villages of Derbentbasi, pass the villages of Baskoy and Guzeloz and arrive finally at the famous Soganli Valley. Soganli Valley, which is divided into two, has been occupied since the roman period. The Romans used the conical rock formations as graves; later Byzantines transformed them into churches. The Frescoes in the churches date back to the 9th and 13th centuries. Karabas, Yilanli, Kubbeli and St. Barbara (Tahtali) are notable churches in the valley. In the late afternoon our vehicle will pick us up from Soganli Valley and we drive back to our Hotel.Distance by bike: approximately 45/50 km (approximately 10 km asphalt)Altitude differences: between 40 – 380mAscent / descent: ⇑ 250m; ⇓ 190m; ⇑ 380m; ⇓ 170m; ⇑ 80m; ⇓ 100m; ⇑ 120m; ⇓ 50m; ⇑ 40m; ⇓ 160m;ON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: B / L / D

Day 4 : Cappadocia Mountain biking; route 3

Mustafapasa → Ortahisar → Pancarlik valley → Urgup → Devrent → Saruhan caravanserai → Sarihidir village → AvanosAfter breakfast we start our todays ride in the village of Mustafapasa, we first take an asphalt road (approximately 3 km) and turn into stabilized roads afterwards which will lead us to the Pancarlik Valley. In the Pancarlik Valley we will see numerous cones and fairy chimneys decorating our way and it is also possible to visit Sarica and Pancarlik churches for their architectural interest. After riding through Pancarlik Valley we will arrive in the village of Ortahisar, famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle like rock formation after which the town is named. After having a short break in Ortahisar we take the asphalt road out of the village and enter into stabilized roads through the vineyard gardens until we reach Urgup, one of the most important centers in Cappadocia. Urgup was a bishopric of the rock cut churches and monasteries found in the villages, valleys and towns around. Today Urgup is known for its famous wines and pleasant cafes. Via Urgup we continue our ride towards Avanos; we pass Devrent Valley, with many different rock formations and Saruhan Caravanserai, wich covers an area of around 2000 m2. Via Sarihidir village we reach the town of Avanos. The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery; it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites. Our ride ends in Avanos where our vehicle will pick us up and drive us back to our Hotel.Distance by bike: approximately 45/50 km (approximately 15 km asphalt)Altitude differences: between 60 – 200mAscent / descent: ⇓ 80m; ⇑ 160m; ⇓ 60m; ⇑ 80m; ⇓ 200m; ⇑ 100m; ⇓ 110m; ⇑ 90m; ⇓ 200m; ⇑ 80m; ⇓ 90mON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: B / L / D

Day 5 : Cappadocia Mountain biking; route 4

Mustafapasa → Ayvali & Bahceli villages → Ibrahimpasa → Uchisar citadel → Akvadi (White valley) → GoremeWe start our ride in the village of Mustafapasa and follow stabilized roads, pass vineyard Gardens and a small Hill known as Golgoli until we reach Ayvali, a small village where agriculture is the main source of income. From Ayvali village we continue for a while an asphalt road (approximately 5 km) before we pick up a stabilized road again which leads us to the village of Bahceli, with general features of the traditional architecture of Cappadocia. Here, we take time to enjoy the authentic atmosphere and drink a typical Turkish tea or coffee. From Bahceli village we continue on stabilized roads to the village of Ibrahimpasa, where the historical stone bridge and original Greek stone houses draw our attention. After Ibrahimpasa village we ride on stabilized roads again until we reach an asphalt road which leads us to the village of Uchisar, where we take time to visit the high viewpoint known as “The fortress”. Many rooms hollowed out into the Rock, are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages. The top of the Citadel provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. Afterwards we ride further through one of the most astonishing valleys of Cappadocia, the White Valley with its beautiful fairy chimneys. We end the day in Goreme.Distance by bike: approximately 45/50 km (approximately 13/15 km asphalt)Altitude differences: between 100 – 450mAscent / descent: ⇑ 245m; ⇓ 110m; ⇑ 250m; ⇓ 230m; ⇑ 110m; ⇓ 190m; ⇑ 240m; ⇓ 430m; ⇑ 110m;ON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: B / L / D

Day 6 : Cappadocia Mountain biking; route 5

Mustafapasa → ruins of Gomeda → Kavak village → Cardak & Mazi villages → Kaymakli → Derinkuyu underground cityWe start our ride once again in the village of Mustafapasa and take first an asphalt road out of the village and enter into stabilized roads leading us to the ruins of Gomeda, one of the oldest cave churches in Cappadocia, a 11th century Greek town. Via Gomeda we ride on stailized roads, pass vineyard gardens and reach the village of Kavak and continue from there towards Cardak and Mazi villages. In the afternoon we will arrive in the village of Kaymakli, where we take time for a traditional turkis tea, known as cay. In the (late) afternoon we will arrive at the incredible underground city of Derinkuyu. Derinkuyu was opened to visitors in 1965, but only 10 % of the city can be visited. The city is approximately 85m deep and contains all of the usual rooms found in an underground city, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches and wineries. Apart from these, a large room with a barrel vaulted ceiling on the second floor served as a missionary school, the rooms to the left used as study rooms. Our vehicle will pick us up in Derinkuyu and we drive back to our Hotel.Distance by bike: approximately 45/50 km (approximately 10/15 km asphalt) Altitude differences: between 50 – 240mAscent / descent: ⇑ 240m; ⇓ 50m; ⇑ 150m; ⇓ 110m; ⇑ 160m; ⇓ 80m; ⇑ 60m; ⇓ 110m; ⇑ 95m; ⇓ 160mON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: B / L / D

Day 7 : Cappadocia Mountain biking; route 6

Goreme → Cavusin → Pasabaglari & Zelve Monastery → via Boztepe plateau to Red valley → Kiliclar & Zemi valleyWe start our ride in Goreme village, designated as an important tourist destination; a “center” for all tourism in Cappadocia, the name of the town was changed to Goreme for practical reasons. Via Goreme we ride on stabilized roads towards Cavusin village, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia Area; a small village made up of rock cut dwellings and elegantly carved stone houses. From Cavusin village we ride on small paths, close to fascinating rock formations and with magnificent views to the fairy chimneys at monk’s valley (Pasabaglari) down below. Pasabaglari fairy chimneys are unique and feature bizarre large toadstool like caps which protect the rest of the chimney from erosion. The area was formerly a monastic retreat and used to be known as monk’s valley and features a rock cut church dedicated to St Simeon. Via Pasabaglari our ride will permit us directly to Zelve Monastery Valley. Christians moved to Zelve during the Persian and Arab invasions and the region, though recently uninhabited, became an important settlement and religious area during the 9th and 13th centuries. Zelve spreads out over three valleys, of which two are connected by a tunnel. The monastery is rich in its own beauty; main decorations are high relief crosses representative of the Iconoclastic doctrine. Via Zelve we ride to the Plateau of Boztepe, one of the highest points in Cappadocia and with breathtaking views down to the bizarre landscape of Cappadocia. After riding high on the plateau we descent down to the area of Red Valley, the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia with its spectacular formations and colours. Via Red Valley area we ride towards Kiliclar (Sword) Valley, one of the smallest valleys in Cappadocia with many interesting fairy chimneys and ruins. Sword Valley is known for its fantastic views of Cappadocia; on the road to Goreme there are tracks where it is possible to explore abandoned caves which were homes of past citizens in this region. Our ride will end in Goreme village and we drive back to our Hotel.Distance by bike: approximately 30/35 km (approximately 5 km asphalt)Altitude differences: between 40 – 380mAscent / descent: ⇓ 60m; ⇑ 60m; ⇓ 70m; ⇑ 300m; ⇓ 130m; ⇑ 60m; ⇓ 180m; ⇑ 175m; ⇓ 30m; ⇑ 90m; ⇓ 215mON: in Cappadocia at the HotelMeals: B / L / D

Price Excludes– Mountain bikes & Equipment– All International and Domestic Flights– Travel insurance– Extra Transports and transfers other than stated in the Itinerary– All kind of Soft and Alcoholic drinks, Bottled Water, Tea & Coffee– Meals other than stated in the Itinerary– All kind of personal expenses– All kind of Entrance fees for historical and natural sites– All kind of optional activities– Extra Nights– Single supplements– Personal Equipment– Tips